Brief About
Gumla DistrictLong ago Gumla was a small hamlet
. It was known as a fair place GAU- MELA . This fair took
place once in a year and continues for one week. Here all
items of daily use, utensils , ornaments, grains,cattle etc
were sold & exchanged . Since there was no other alternative
to get the items , people make a long list of items required
during the year ( whether it is for marriage ceremony or for
any occasions ) and buy them in this MELA. People from distant
places used to come here for buying & selling cattle such
as cows & bullocks for agricultural purposes . Gradually
people started to inhabit this place .It grew into a village
and got the name GUMLA as a derivative of GAU – MELA.

During medieval era Chhotanagpur
region was reigned by Kings of NAGA dynasty. BARAIK DEVENANDAN
SINGH was given right to rule over Gumla circle. It is said
that during the KOLH REBEL in 1931-32 , VAKTAR SAY had played
a prominent role . GANGA MAHARAJ, who built the KALI TEMPLE
at Sri Ramnagar, had played active role in QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT
in 1942. For this great contribution for Independence, he
was honored with LIFE TIME PENSION by government of India.

During British rule GUMLA
was under LOHARDAGA district .In 1843 it was brought under
BISHUNPUR province that was further named RANCHI .In fact
Ranchi district came into existence in 1899. In 1902 Gumla
became Sub-division under Ranchi district.

On 18 MAY 1984 GUMLA DISTRICT
came into existence .Sri Jagannath Mishra then ruling chief
minister of Bihar inaugurated it and Sri Dwarika Nath Sinha
acquired the post of 1st deputy commissioner of the just born
district.

It is a matter of great regret
that GUMLA that is a territory of great historical importance
has not been brought under research map.

PROFILE
OF GUMLA DISTRICTBlessed with nature’s beauty , the
district of Gumla is covered by dense forests, hills and rivers.
It is situated in the southwest portion of the Jharkhand State.
The District was carved out of Ranchi District on 18th May
1983. Previously it was a sub-division of old Ranchi district.
The district lies between 22° 35” to 23° 33” north latitude
and 84° 40” to 85° 1” east longitude. The various legends
are in currency regarding its name .

The most popular one ascribes
to its word 'Gumla' in Mundari language, which relates to
the occupation of the local Tribes in rice processing work
(dhan-kutna). The second legend 'Gau-mela' relates to cattle
fair. Cattle fair was weekly held in Gumla town every Tuesday.
In rural areas, Nagpuri and Sadri people still call it 'gomila'.

Till 30th April 2001, Gumla district consisted on 2 sub-divisions
viz Gumla and Simdega. But after the creation of Jharkhand
State , a new district of Simdega was carved out of Gumla
district on 30th April, 2001. Now, Gumla district consists
of only one sub-division namely Gumla. Total area of the district
is about 5327 sq. km.

The total population of district as per 1991 census is 706489,
out of which 355505 is male population and 350984 is female
population.There is predominance of tribal people in Gumla
district. The primitive tribe’s population is 11283, SC population
is 24329, ST population is 476316, and BC population is 132610
and others population is 61951. Since obvious that the district
has a total of 68% of tribal population, therefore, it comes
within scheduled area .